Motion-picture-film guide



Patented .im s, 1926.

UNITED STATES or'ro wrrrnr., or nocnns'rnn,

, or nocnns'rnn, NEW Yonx,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AIEASTMAN KODAK COMANY,

A. CORPORATION 0l' NEW YORK.

no'rIoN-rrcrtrnnrmm GUIDE.

Application iiled November 18, 1924. Serial No. 750,601.'

My invention relates to motion picture apparatus and more particularly to a film guide for holding a band ofilm in contact with a driving sprocket. The objects of my invention are to make a device for this purpose that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture,l may be 'struck up from -a single 'piece of sheet metal and will be particularly easy for an unskilled user to opcrate. following specification 1n which reference will be made to the accompanying drawing wherein the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a motion picture camera with one side of the casing removed and embodying one form of my invention;

f/ I Fig. 2 is a plan of the blank from which' my improvedfilm guide is bent up.;

Fig. 3 is a sideview of the Elm guide and the actuating spring;

Fig. 4 isa section through the sprocket and 'guide with the latterv in operative position, being taken along the line 4-4 oi Fig. 6;

ig. 5 is a side view of the sprocket and .guide with the latter in open position for threading Fig.- 6 is a side View of the sprocket and guide with the latter in operative position. A motion picture camera4 in which my improved' mechanism, shown as incorporated, is of the simple box type and comprises a casing 1 which may be opened at one side, as the film-threading compartment.

shown, to render accessible In this are shafts 2 upon which are the lilm reels` 3 between which a -loop of film F passes in Aboth directions over a single driving sprocket 4 to the film gate. The latter comprises a rigid arcuate member 5 which is normally fixed but has a resilient latch 6 permittln its removal from the locating pin 7. e film passes around this guide and is held in contact with it by the comL .plementary' spring-pressed guide member 8. The lfilm is 4advanced by an intermittent claw mechanism 9. The objective, inder and shutter are inthe compartment 10.. The elements above described do not constitute a part of m invention. Upon each side of the sproc et 11, lm guide members 12, which are pressed 13 has convolutionsl Other objects will appear in the' -edges 27 and 28 Y tends 4 are mounted' on pivots) by a spring element 13 struck from a single piece of resilient wire ao'ainst the opposite sides of the sprocket. Tzlii's spring member 14 embracing the pins 11 and constituting hinges' and extensions 15 bearing against the back of the projections 18 on the film guides.

The guide is struck from a blank, shown `in Fig. 2, and comprising a rectangular body portion 16 havingalong one edge three pro]ections 17, 18 and 19. The projection 17 has a long tongue 20 projecting longitudinally of the blank land two shorter tongues 21, while the projection 19 has short tongues 21 opposite to the tongues 21 and a central short tongue 22. The central proljection 18 is left unbent for a purpose to l" be hereinafter described. The pro]ections 17 and 19 are bent along the dotted lines 23 and 24 so that the main'port'ions overhang the blank 16 and Vform open sided channel members 25 and 26. The outer of the projections 17 'and slightly flared as are the ends of the 21, 21 and 26 are portion 31, as

tongues bent at an angle to the central indicated ati' 29 and 30 and and 22. The channel members 25v the central portion is bowed and has formed therein longitudinal beads 32. The sprocket 4 is xed on a driving shaft 33' passing through the partition 34 of the camera and comprises a core 35 with spaced flanges 36 upon the periphery of which are the sprocket teeth 37 adapted to en age the perforations 38 of the film F. pon the shaft 33 is mounted an abutment member 39, the top of which extends beyond the periphery of the flange 36 but not as far as the top of the teeth 37 It is engaged by the projection 18 in the side of the body portion 31 of the presser uide and the end of the spring 15 norma ly holds it in contact with the abutment 39. The guide member, therefore, does not contact with the film or the s rocket but the rooves 32 therein keep tiie film from acci ental displacement from the sprocket teeth. The extension 20 exdown between 'the anges 36.r It might be possible for the -lm at the point A in Fig. 6 to adhere accidentally to a sprocket tooth and be carried in a loop down past the tongues 21 if this member 20 were notpresent.

lloo

In use the film loop into the camera, the presser guides being swung to the position indicated in Fig. 5, where the loop can be readily inserted.

It is obvious that the presser guide herein described is a simple, convenient and inexpensive structure forfilling all the requirements of an apparatus for amateur use in an efiicient manner.

I contemplate as within the scope of my invention, all such modifications and equiva lentsfas fall within the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In motion picture apparatus, in com- A bination, a wheel for engaging and advanc- `bination,

end adjacent said wheel lsition slightly spaced -end adjacent said wheel ing a film band, and a guide adjacent said wheel. and comprising a single sheet of metal having at its ends portions bent around from one edge to form open sided guide channels tov conduct the film to and `from the wheel, and bowed between the guide channels to conform to the curvature of the wheel;

2. In motion picture apparatus, in coma wheel for engaging and advancing a film band, a guide. pivoted atone single sheet of metal having a't its ends portions bent to form open sided guide channels and its intermediate portion bowed to conform to the curvature of the wheel and means to position the uide in operative porom the wheel.

3. In motion picture apparatus, in combination, a wheel for engaging and advancing a film band, a guide pivoted at one and comprising a single sheet of metal having at its ends portions bent to form open sided guide channels andits intermediate portion bowed to conform to the curvature of the wheel, a spring for pressing the guide toward the is threaded 1aterally.

and comprising a' wheel and anabutment for limiting its movement toward the wheel.

4. In motion picture apparatus, in combination, a sprocket having peri heral teeth for engaging and advancing a film band, a film guide pivoted adjacent said sprocket, a spring for pressing the guide toward the sprocket and an abutment for holding the guide slightly spaced from said sprocket, the film guide comprising a single sheet of metal bent near its ends to constitute open sided channel members with fiaring ends to conduct the film to and from the sprocket, and bowed between said channel members to conform to the curvature .of the sprocket.

5. In motion picture apparatus, in combination, a sprocket having spaced flanges with peripheral teeth for engaging and advancing a film and ay film guide comprising a single piece of sheet metal bent near its end to constitute open sided channel members to conduct the film to and from the sprocket and 'having an extension from one end extending into the space between the flanges to insure the proper passage of the filmto the channel member directing it from the sprocket.

6. In motion picture apparatus, in combination, a wheel having spaced iianges for engaging at their peripheries and advancing a film band, and a film guide pivoted at one end and comprising a single sheet of metal bent at its ends to' form guides to conduct film to and from said wheel and having an extension on its endremote from the pivot extending into the space between the fianges to insure the the channel member at that end, and means to position the guide in operative relation to the wheel.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 13th day of November, 192

" OTTO WITTEL.

band with perforated edgesA 

